DSLR Camera Connection

How to connect your external DSLR camera to your iOS device

Mcjay T.

Last Update 2 years ago

Snapspin360 allows you to connect a DSLR or mirrorless camera directly to your iOS device with a direct USB connection, but you may need an adapter depending on your camera, cable, and iOS device. When using an adapter, the camera should be connected using a USB cable, not an HDMI or other kind of cable.


Devices With a Lightning Port


If your device has a lightning port, you will need a USB to Lightning adapter. Apple's Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter is a good choice because it allows you to charge your iOS device while using a wired camera.


Devices With a USB-C Port


You have more flexibility if your iOS device has a USB-C port.


If you don't need to charge your iOS device at your event, you can use a USB-C cable directly between your device and the camera.


If you need to keep your device charged while using a wired camera, you will need an adapter. Apple's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter works well for this, but any USB-C hub with Power Delivery should work. We have tested a few hubs, including the Hyperdrive 6-in-1 USB-C Hub, which works without issue.


Wired Printing


If wireless printing doesn't work for your setup for whatever reason, and you're using a device with a USB-C port, you can print with a wired connection using the Snapspin360 Print Server. You will need the following additional items for this:

  1. A USB-C hub with both a USB port and Ethernet connection. We have tested successfully with the Hyperdrive SLIM 8-in-1 USB-C Hub.
  2. A regular Ethernet cable.
  3. A Windows or Mac computer to run the Snapspin360 Print Server. You can message us for the Printer Software.
  4. (Optional) If your computer doesn't have an Ethernet port, you will also need a USB to Ethernet adapter compatible with your computer, such as this one or this one.


First, connect the USB-C hub to the iOS device, and plug the camera and Ethernet cable into the hub. Then plug the other end of the Ethernet cable into the computer (using a USB to Ethernet adapter if needed). From here, just set up the camera and printer as you normally would.


The iOS device will now use the wired Ethernet connection to send the prints to the Snapspin360 Print Server to print. If your device has a Wi-Fi connection with an active Internet connection, the device will still send the images to Snapspin360 and your micro-site gallery using the Wi-Fi internet, while prints will be sent over the wired connection.

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